Pennies from Heaven

My thoughts began innocently enough this morning, reflecting with humble and thankful gratitude upon the fortunes which I have recently enjoyed. I have experienced within the past two days something akin to money literally falling from Heaven. Like most things in life, the ultimate sensation was the accumulation of many smaller, less significant ones. First there was the intelligence from my Accountant that I may be entitled to an income tax refund. That of course was welcome news, but it didn't heighten my expectations greatly, as I am always of the opinion that what Her Majesty gives with one hand, she takes with the other. Then, quite unexpectedly, a cheque arrived in the mail from the local Municipality, a rebate provided to owners of heritage properties to off-set on-going maintenance costs. On heels of that surprise, I concluded a difficult transaction which provided unanticipated return, as the twisted details of the deal finally and somewhat abruptly merged with satisfaction on all sides. And just as I was beginning to think things couldn't get any better, a sizeable settlement arrived in the mail from a Trustee-in-Bankruptcy in the matter of a class action law suit about which I had entirely abandoned any hope of recovery. Granted, this latter benefit was on behalf of a Deceased for whom I am the Estate Trustee, but nonetheless it added further advantage to what had already been a successful few days.

What unintentionally began ringing through my mind was the adage "Pennies from Heaven", which I thought to be something akin to winning a lottery or other unexpected good fortune. I had no idea, however, that the whole point of "Pennies from Heaven" is in fact quite the opposite, being more in line with a consolation prize when things turn sour. I suppose it is rather like the word "spendthrift" which, while it appears to imply frugality, actually refers to profligacy, the origin of the word being one who spends the "thrift" of his ancestors. Merely another example of how cautious one must be in interpreting the sign posts of life.

Much has been written about the need to make a good thing out of bad. All very easily said. The invitation is often made all the more difficult to embrace when it comes with the inherent assurance that we somehow need the bad if we want the good. Not exactly refreshing, is it? Nonetheless, considering that today we may tread the flowery paths of prosperity, and tomorrow we may face sickness and adversity or the sear and yellow leaf of old age, it probably matters little wherein our fortune lies or why it may be so.

For the time being, therefore, I shall content myself to relish the blessings which I consider to have fallen upon me from Heaven, a windfall gain, an apple blown from a tree by the wind. I am not so smug as to believe that there is any particular entitlement. Nor am I so maudlin as to feel compelled to wring my happiness only from despair.
　
A long time ago
A million years BC
The best things in life
Were absolutely free.
But no one appreciated
A sky that was always blue.
And no one congratulated
A moon that was always new.
So it was planned that they would vanish now and then
And you must pay before you get them back again.
That's what storms were made for
And you shouldn't be afraid for
Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven.
You'll find your fortune falling
All over town.
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down.
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love
You must have showers.
So when you hear it thunder
Don't run under a tree.
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me.